BRIEFLY

GM will offer 8.8% financing on some small cars.

The auto maker said the cut-rate loans--available through April 30 under company financing--would be offered on the Pontiac Fiero and Sunbird, Chevrolet Cavalier, Oldsmobile Firenza, Buick Skyhawk and Cadillac Cimarron subcompact cars. General Motors traditionally shuns sales gimmicks. But in the last auto sales reporting period, its share of the U.S. market fell to 53.4%, compared to 60% a year earlier.